Electric starting device for gas-engines.



Patented Oct. I0, |899.

No. 634,54|l

J. W. RAYMOND. ELECTRIC STAB-TINE DEVICE F08 GAS ENGINES. (Application Q le Nov. 17', 189B.) (No Model.)

SSES I id/lm FFE raras JOHN lV. RAYMOND, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD AUTOMATIC GAS ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME ILACE.

ELECTRIC STARTING DEVICE FOR GASENGlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,541, dated October 10, 1899.

Application filed November 17, 1898. Serial No. 696.678. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN XV. RAYMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oil City, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Starting Devices for Gas- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for starting gas-engines, and has the object to produce a simple and efficient device for this purpose, by which the starting of the engine is effected by the explosion of a charge of loose powder which is ignited by electricity.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary horizontal section of the cylinder and piston of a gas-engine, showing my improved starting device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale in line 2 2, Fig. l.A Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the cylinder of a gas-engine, and B the piston working therein.

C represents the metallic body of the starting device, which consists, preferably, of a T-shaped pipe-fitting, the main portion of which is arranged' horizontally and forms a powder-chamber c, while the branch c' eX- tends upwardly and carries the igniting devices. One end of the powder-chamber is connected with an opening d in one end of the cylinder by a pipe or conduit d and the other end of the chamber is closed by a screwplug cl2.

E represents an externally-threaded metal bushing which is screwed into the branch of the body.

F is an upright metal guide-sleeve arranged in the bushing and secured therein by a collar or shoulder f, arranged on the inner end of the sleeve and bearing against the inner end of the bushing, and a screw-nut f', arranged on the outer threaded end of the sleeve and bearing against the outer end of the bushing. Electrical communication between the guide-sleeve and the bushing is prevented by interposing an insulating medium g, such as mica or rubber, between the bushing and the guide-sleeve and its collar and screw-nut,

as shown in Fig. 2. A washer g is preferably arranged between the screw-nut f and that portion of the insulation which bears against the outer end of the bushing.

I-I represents a shifting rod arranged lengthwise in the guide-sleeve and capable -of reciprocating longitudinally and also rotating therein. This rod is provided within the powder-chamber with a depending contactfinger 77 which is adapted to bear against the bottom of the powder-chamber for effecting a metallic or electrical contact therewith. The inner portion of the shifting rod is provided with an outwardly-facing conical shoulder 7L', which is adapted to bear against a corresponding shoulder on the inner end of the guide-sleeve. The shifting rod is yieldingly held in its outermost position with its conical shoulder against that of the sleeve and with its finger out of contact With the bottom of the powder-chamber by a spring t', surrounding the outer portion of the shifting rod and hearing with its inner end against the outer end ofthe guide-sleeve, While its outer end bears against a collar or button J on the outer end of the shifting rod.

K represents an electrical generator, one pole of which is connected by a wire 7a with the powder-chamber or some part in metallic connection therewith, while its opposite pole is connected by a wire 7c with the -button .I or some other part in metallic connection with the contact-finger, so that theA bottom of the powder-chamber and the contact-finger form the terminals of the electrical generator.

Vhen it is desired to start the engine, a quantity of partially-crushed blasting or slow-burning powder is placed upon the bottom of the powder-chamber, the powder being preferably introduced through the branch c of the body after removing the bushing carrying the ignitiug devices. After introducing the powder into the powder-chamber the bushing is replaced, which causes the contact-iinger to stand over or project into the top of the pile of powderin the chamber. The shifting rod is now depressed until it bears against the bottom of the metallic powder-chamber, thereby closing the electric circuit, and upon releasing the shifting rod a spark is formed as the finger leaves the bot- IOO tom of the powder-chamber, whereby the surrounding powder is ignited and the expanding-gases resulting therefrom are conducted into the cylinder for starting the movement of the piston.

In order to insure a more perfect contact between the bottom of the powder-chamber and the contact-linger, the latter is turned or bentlaterally to one side into the form of a crank, as shown at h2, Figs. 2 and 3, and the shifting rod after being depressed to its full- .est extent is turned, whereby the laterallybent portion of the finger is vcaused to scrape over said bottom in a circular path, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby deiiecting any grains of powder which may be interposed between the bearing-point of the iinger and the bottom of the chamber and producing a perfect contact between the linger and the chamber-bottom. Vhen the shifting rod is in its elevated position, its conical shoulder bearing against that of the sleeve prevents leakage of gas at this point.

It has been found in practice that the engine is strained or shocked considerably when started by an explosion of quick-burnin g powder, which is not the case with slow-burning powder; but the difficulty in using slowburning powder has been that it does notignite readily. This construction of an electric starting device is extremely simple and durable and thoroughly'ignites slow-burning powder, thereby enabling the engine to be started gradually, whereby the jar and shock upon the engine resulting from the use of quick-burning powder is avoided.

I claim as my inventionl. In a starting device for explosive-engines, the combination with the working cylinder, of a powder-chamber connected with the cylinder and with one pole of an electric generator and adapted to receive a charge of powder, and an electrode in said chamber connected to the other pole of said generator and movable toward and from the terminal of said chamber for producing a spark, substantially as set forth.

2. In a starting device for explosive-engines, the combination with the working cylinder, of a chamber connected with said cylinder and with one pole of an electric generator and adapted to receive a charge of powder, an insulated shifting rod capable of a reciprocating an da rotary movement and adapted to be connected with the other pole of said generator, and a contact-finger arranged ou said rod within the chamber and provided with a laterallyprojecting contactpoint adapted tomove toward and from the terminal of the chamber for producing a spark, substantially as set forth.

3. In a starting' device for explosive-engines, the combination with the working cylinder, of a chamber connected with said cylinder and with one pole of an electric generator and adapted to receive a charge of powder, an insulated guide-sleeve mounted on said chamber, a shifting rod capable of a sliding and a rotary movement in said sleeve and adapted to be connected with the other pole of said generator, a laterally-projecting or crank-shaped electrode arranged on the inner end of said rod and adapted to make contact with the bottom of said chamber, ashoul-- der arranged on the inner portion of said rod and bearing against a shoulder on the innerend of the guide-sleeve, and a spring bearing with its ends against the outer end of said sleeve and a shoulder on the outer 4end of said rod, substantially as set forth.

Vifitness my hand this Qth'day of November, 1898.

JOHN W. RAYMOND. lVitnesses:

R. S. GRAY,

XV. E. BLANEY, 

